ing heaving dressings of barnyard manure the same season 

 that the beets are raised, will result in a crop of low sugar 

 content. 



On most beet soils both potash and phosphoric acid com- 

 pounds can be profitably used, and on many, nitrogen com- 

 pounds are also profitable, but must be used with discretion. 



The beets themselves have means of letting us know 

 whether they are hungry for certain plant foods, and if we 

 will carefully examine the fields through the growing season 

 we may get some very valuable hints in regard to what is 

 needed to so supplement the soil supply as to make a prop- 

 erly balanced ration for maximum sugar production. 



If the leaves turn yellow before maturity, a lack of nitro- 

 gen is shown. 



If phosphoric acid is deficient, the leaves do not assume 

 the usual lighter shade at maturity, but wither while still re- 

 taining their dark green color, and reddish colored spots on 

 the edges of the leaves are sometimes seen although these 

 are not very conspicuous. In case of both nitrogen and 

 phosphoric acid hunger, the size of the leaves is much re- 

 duced in the early stages of growth. 



When there is a lack of available potash, the leaf growth 

 may be quite strong up to the time that cultivation ceases and 

 the color may be rich dark green. But development is 

 checked rather suddenly at a time when the roots should in- 

 crease rapidly in size. The leaves do not ripen normally, 

 but bear yellow spots, which later become brown. The leaves 

 are inclined to curl and wither quickly in the sunshine. 



10 



